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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw

Pool A

• New Zealand
• Australia
• Chile
• Hong Kong

Pool B

• South Africa
• Italy
• Georgia
• Romania

Pool C

• Argentina
• Fiji
• Spain
• Canada

Pool D

• Ireland
• Scotland
• Uruguay
• Portugal

Pool E

• France
• Japan
• USA
• Samoa

Pool F

• England
• Wales
• Tonga
• Zimbabwe